Does someone have to hurt you before you taze them? Can you taze them while they approach from a distance...?

Question

before they get a hold of you?

In that case how would you prove they were going to try to harm you?

Answer 1

You can taze them before they cause any harm, as long as you can prove to the cops that you were doing so in self-defense.

Answer 2

You can taze them when you feel you are in danger or they pose a threat to you.  You can verbally warn them but don't pull it out if you don't plan on using it.  Just like a weapons charge, you have to explain more if you get them in the back because that would mean they were trying to leave.  Tell the courts that you felt that you were in danger and why.

Answer 3

You must prove that you feared for your safety.

You must state that you have a weapon and intend to use it.

Are you asking this because you are thinking of starting to carry one or because you already used it on someone? If you are just thinking of starting to carry one you could call the police department locally (the NON EMERGENCY number) and ask them for more information.  They want the public to be informed, they can at least steer you in the right direction.

If this is something that has already happened you need to talk to a lawyer, not the interwebs.

Answer 4

No.  Police routinely  taze people BEFORE they getthe chance to hurt them.